Geneva – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released the updated 2026 editions of key industry manuals for cargo and ground operations, which incorporate close to 100 major changes and revisions to align with evolving global standards.
The main changes to the 2026 manuals include:
Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) and Battery Shipping Regulations (BSR)
Battery-related updates dominate the DGR and BSR for 2026.
The number of lithium batteries transported as cargo by air have surged 25% year-on-year [1]. At the same time, the industry has seen several incidents involving overheating power banks on aircraft, contributing to the need for revised regulations around the shipment of lithium batteries.
The past year has also seen the emergence of new hybrid battery chemistries—particularly those used in hybrid vehicles—requiring updated shipping requirements.
The key changes to the 2026 DGR include:
• The introduction of formalized shipping names for hybrid-powered vehicles
• Recommendations on the use of power banks and spare batteries by passengers in the cabin
• Updated variations for Thailand, France and United Kingdom
• Standardized text for 290 existing operator variations
• Additional guidance regarding safety data sheets required for certain dangerous goods
• The inclusion of Appendix H, which sets out a number of changes expected in 2027
The key changes to the 2026 BSR include: (....)